Debt Campaigners Demand G8 Leaders Act Now

Jubilee 2000, the campaign calling for the cancellation of
Third World debt, today met with leaders of the G8 in
Okinawa, Japan. This is the third year in a row that Jubilee
2000 has been able to force the issue of debt onto the
agenda of the G8 meeting and demand that urgent action be
taken.

Robert Reid, New Zealand's Jubilee 2000 Campaign
Coordinator is currently in Okinawa to show this country's
commitment to debt cancellation and to monitor the outcome
of the G8 meeting.

"A delegation from the Jubilee 2000
campaign met with Prime Minister Mori of Japan this
morning", said Robert Reid. "The delegation called on the
leaders of the G8 (USA, UK, Italy, France, Germany, Russia,
Japan and Canada) to honour the promises they made last year
in Cologne. Despite all the talk of debt cancellation, G8
leaders have only managed to cancel $10.6 billion worth of
debt. This is only one-tenth of what was promised".

The
cost of the debt crisis to Third World countries is
overwhelming. In Africa, debt costs the lives of 13 children
every minute. In every one of the 52 countries that Jubilee
2000 has identified as needing debt cancellation, it takes
away the people's access to health care and education.

Jubilee 2000 is also calling on G8 leaders to remove many of
the conditions which are being placed on countries in order
for them to receive debt relief and to establish an
international monitoring body for debt cancellation.

Robert Reid is available for comment and further
information. He can be contacted in Okinawa on 0081 98 868
5162 (ask for Room 663). The best time to get him is between
9am and noon New Zealand time.

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